Mavericks, Inc., the company behind the AI video generation service NoLang, has added more than 100 official shared Live2D avatars, bringing the total number of selectable Live2D avatars to more than 200. Counting PSD character illustrations and real avatars, the shared avatar library now holds more than 500 characters. In the editor, expressions and gestures can be set scene by scene, so a character can act out the moments that matter. Individuals and small businesses that own no illustrations or Live2D models can now put a character on screen without commissioning any model production and without any upfront investment.
Character-led video is popular, but avatar production costs block entry
As video content becomes more crowded, interest is growing in using characters to make viewers remember who is speaking. In a survey by Minto, Inc., about 46% of respondents said that having a character present a product or service deepened their interest and understanding, and about 28% said that companies using a character on their social media accounts were easier to remember. Character-based communication shows a measurable effect1.
Producing an animated character in-house, however, means a real upfront investment. Outsourcing everything from illustration to modeling typically costs about 100,000 to 150,000 yen with an individual creator, and 300,000 to 400,000 yen with a video production company. Even when the illustration already exists and only the modeling is outsourced, the going rate is roughly 10,000 to 50,000 yen2. Money is not the only burden. Finding a creator, agreeing on specifications and waiting for delivery are unavoidable steps, which made it hard to even get started at the stage of “let us try one video first.”
NoLang has supported several avatar formats — Live2D, PSD and real avatars — from early on, but users without their own assets needed a wider set of ready-to-use options. That is why more than 100 official Live2D avatars have been added, more than doubling the selection to over 200. Without preparing a model from scratch, anyone can now produce a video in which a character moves and speaks. Individuals and small teams that have neither the budget for a production company nor the time to wait for delivery can now start publishing character-led video.
Over 100 Live2D avatars added, more than 200 to choose from
The update adds more than 100 official shared Live2D avatars. Selectable Live2D avatars now number more than 200, and the shared avatar library reaches more than 500 when real avatars and PSD character illustrations are included. Because avatars in different visual styles sit in the same catalog, users can pick the one that fits the job.
The avatar catalog can be filtered by Recommended, Live2D avatars, PSD character avatars and real avatars. Marking an avatar as a favorite makes it available immediately for the next video. Each avatar carries a Japanese character name, so users can check the impression it gives while browsing.
Video generation with PSD and Live2D avatars is available from the Free plan. In other words, users can choose from more than 200 Live2D avatars and produce videos without subscribing to a paid plan. Those who want to bring in their own character can upload their own Live2D avatar on the Premium plan and on NoLang for Business (the Business plan).
Set expressions and gestures scene by scene
An avatar is more than a figure standing on screen. Turning on “Add emotions and gestures” in the video settings makes the avatar move with expressions and gestures that match what it is saying.
In the editor, expressions and gestures can be set and changed individually for each scene of a video. Expressions include happy, surprised, serious and confused; gestures include nodding, bowing, waving, clapping and pointing. That makes it possible to place a specific piece of acting exactly where it is wanted — a surprised face here, a bow with this one line. When an expression is selected, a sample image of that avatar is previewed, so the result can be checked while making the choice.
Which expressions and gestures each avatar supports can be checked in the catalog listing and on the avatar detail view. A product introduction can explain specifications with a serious face and close with a smile. A short video for social media can open with a wave to catch the viewer’s eye. Direction like this fits into a single video without any recording or model production.
From internal training to social media, a different character for each purpose
Teams that publish video continuously face a different goal and a different audience with every piece. With more than 200 avatars available, a calm character can front internal training while a friendly one handles social media posts. For dialogue-style videos, the narrator and the assistant can each be assigned a separate avatar, so a two-voice explainer format is also possible without any model production.
Having Live2D, PSD character illustrations and real avatars in one catalog also makes it easier to switch between them: a real avatar for formal scenes, a Live2D character where a softer tone is wanted — all within a single service.
Individuals and small businesses without a character of their own, as well as schools, government offices and nonprofits, can start publishing character-led video with no upfront investment. A gradual path is also possible: start with the official avatars, then upload an in-house Live2D model once the need arises.
What comes next
NoLang has supported multiple avatar formats — Live2D, PSD and real avatars — and has steadily widened what can be expressed with them. Adding more than 100 official Live2D avatars continues that line of work.
Mavericks will keep expanding the avatar feature on two fronts: giving users without assets options they can use right away, and giving users who want to bring in their own assets an environment that does not get in their way. Expressions and gestures will also keep improving based on user feedback, with the goal of an environment where anyone can make a character speak naturally on screen without specialist production skills.
Footnotes
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Minto, Inc., “Survey on character use in corporate social media” (in Japanese) ↩
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PRONI Aimitsu, “How much does commissioning Live2D production cost? Prices and market rates explained” (in Japanese) ↩
